Pok - one of Sangkheum's confident young adults

HOPE has now been sponsoring the Young Adult (“YA”) Programme attached to the the Sangkhem Centre for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for two years. Pleased with their ongoing efforts and the confidence and progress the young adults are making we thought we should introduce you to one of Sangkheum’s young adults we are supporting!

This programme is vital to ensure underprivileged children who have grown up in the orphanage have a sensible and practical transition into grown up life. This quarter we have asked Pok, an 18 year girl that HOPE trustees first met 5 years ago, to tell you about her story. When we first met her she was a shy quiet girl, but even then she wanted to be a nurse and help others, she was always helping the Centre’s carers to look after the small children or would be in the kitchen helping Cook.

Pok always had a big beaming smile on her face, despite being the only one of four siblings who had to grow up living in an orphanage. She has turned into a beautiful mature young women with drive, dreams and determination and chats confidently in English about her work experience at Angkor Hospital for Children and her responsibility of being the Head Girl in the YA transition house (responsible for the rotas and managing the solution to any problems that arise).

…Hello, my name is Heap Pok. I’m 18 years old. I study in grade 12th at Samdach Ove High School. I have 3 brothers. They live in the country and they are farmers. They have family. My parents die when I was 3 years old. I came to live in Sangkheum when I was 7 years old. I live in Sangkheum where I can learn Khmer, English, Computer, Recreational dancing from Sangkheum and from my teacher.

When I ill I have a good teacher to take care of me so I happy to live in Sangkheum. But when I was 17 years old I left from Sangkheum to live in Young Adult House. I’m very upset at first because I think who cook dinner, lunch and breakfast for me and who take care of me when I was ill and who help me when I have a problem and I don’t want to leave my teacher and Sangkheum. But now it is very good for me because I know how to cook and how to live in community with other young adults. I am happy living in Young Adult House because they’re good and friendly with each other. Sometime we have a little problem with them but its ok because we can explain to each other. We can learn from them and we know how to live and communicate with each other. Some of my house mates are training in hotel or company, now we know how to cook.

I get up at 5.00 in the morning, I clean around the house and do dishes or plant the flowers in the front of our house. At 6.00am I start my school and I come back at 12.00. If I came home early I cook for all my friends, if I come back later my friends cook, and at 12.30 I’m volunteer at Angkor hospital in Siem Reap town until 4.00pm. At 4.10 – 5.30 I have computer class and at 6.00pm to 7.30pm I start English class. I am training at Angkor hospital 5 days a week, computer and English classes 5 days a week too. And at 7.45pm I’m a babysitter 3 or 4 times a week. Sometime I am very tired with all my study and my job training. Because I don’t have power in my body. But I like it because I want to find experience and know how to work. In the future I want to be a nurse because I want to help all the children and all the people when they ill. And I want to take care all the people in my country if I can do. Especially I want to help senior citizen in my country too. And I want to help development of my country. Now I can find some experience from other person and from old person, from friend and from my teacher. In the future I want to improve my life and know how to communicate in the society.

In my big dream I want to visit at some country like Canada, America, England, Australia,….. that I like but it not sure because I don’t have time or money and I’m a student, and can’t travel alone. One day…….

Thank you for supporting HOPE, it lets us help Pok and many others like her in Cambodia, improve their own lives.

Pok and trustee Tanya at the Angkor Bike Ride

Pok, Sangkheum young adults and HOPE trustees

Peou putting his new skills to the test

Mott Peou from Sangkheum Center for Children completed the teacher training course and reports in his own words the benefits of the course and what he’s learnt…

It was a beautiful last two weeks for the course at Salariin Kampuchea organization so I had learned a lot from the course such as teaching grammar lesson, listening, reading, classroom management, potential classroom problems and we had feedback at the end of every single session to find out the strength and weakness points to develop our teaching practice to apply to the real teaching demonstration after the course.

I definitely love the course and have seen myself much better developed in teaching styles almost every single session at my workplace and I am really satisfied the course that had provided lesson planning stages, new model techniques, students’ rapport and how to build up the relationships between the students and teachers to work well. I am interested in the course and really helpful for our English Programme especially the teachers who wants to teach students in formal way and successful.

At last I would like say many thanks to “Hope” that had given us the best teacher training course for last two weeks. It was precious weeks and times, should never forget and love forever. Thanks for your kindly.

Mott Peou, English Teacher at Sangkheum Center for Children

Peou in class with Steve Longley, Teacher Trainer

Peou attentive in class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peou testing his new skills in a real classroom situation

HOPE sponsored teachers complete Teacher Training Course

Teacher training for Sangkheum and Salariian Kampuchea English teachers is complete and Steve Longley, Teacher Trainer, is extremely pleased with the effort everyone put in and the results!

The 4 teachers survived the course and were able to join the teacher/student party at the end with smiles on their faces. The last 3 days saw them each conduct an 80-minute lesson putting in what they had learned with a handed-in written assignment evaluating themselves and a peer. All of them have made huge strides forwards and now it remains for them to continue with their new skills in their own organisations. I am more than happy with the way the trainee teachers conducted themselves throughout the course with open ears and a willingness to improve. I would also like to thank the students of the Salariin Kampuchea who welcomed each different teacher warmly and were a joy to teach.

Steve Longley – Teacher Trainer

Steve Longley, Teacher Trainer, in action

Training continues this week in Siem Reap for four teachers at HOPE supported organizations Sangkheum Center and Salariian Kampuchea. As Steve the trainer reports it’s all going extremely well.

…So the 1st week is complete and the teachers finally got to teach on Friday and put into practice what they had learned so far. Previously I had been teaching different skills lessons with them watching and looking out for specific areas of methodology. After they taught, they filled in a self evaluation form before commenting on each others lesson. I believe it was also an eye-opener for the busy week next week where their lessons increase from 20 to 40 and then an 80 minute lesson at the end. They know the workload will be tough but the trainees also know how much they will get out of their hard work.

With 3 days remaining of the course, the final 80 minute lesson looming and a 1000 word assignment to complete, the 4 trainees seemed remarkably happy. The 4 teachers have just completed their 40 minute lessons and are now getting used to commenting on each others teaching. No longer are they just waiting for the trainer to analyse the lesson but they themselves are now writing on the board how Teacher A did not meet his main aim or Teacher C used the whiteboard correctly during the student feedback. Also, after each lesson, the teacher is filling in a self evaluation form. This, along with peer analyses, are huge steps in progressing as a teacher.

Steve Longley – Teacher Trainer

The work shop is a 2-week intensive course designed to be a springboard for locals wishing to teach English as a Foreign Language. The course is being conducted by a trained and experienced professional and will work within 8 workshops covering teaching practice, classroom observation and a written assignment.

Notes from Steve the teacher trainer…

….So I have completed 2 days. Very different days. The first day the electricity went off so we got candles but the teachers and students adapted well. The second day was more text book and went according to plan. The 4 teachers are very different so it should be interesting to see them teach for the 2nd time on Friday.

I made 14 visits to 9 different projects and met with several prospective projects for future consideration, cycled in two weekend training sessions before and after the Bike Race, took part in the Bike Race (and survived), took volunteering medic students on a tour of the less than modern Provincial Hospital, gave blood (at the slightly more impressive Angkor Childrens Hospital), cheered on a football team which is partly sponsored by HOPE playing in this year’s league final at the Provincial Stadium, a grand occasion but sadly decided by penalties (and Angkor Empire FC did not come out winners on this occasion),  met all the young adults in the three programmes HOPE now supports and finally got to visit My Grandfather House rural school project which has gone from being a dream for one local Cambodian when I left in April 2009, to more than a reality with some 300 local children receiving supplemental education.

While I loved every minute of my time back in Cambodia, there were three enormous highlights for me.

Taking part in the fifth Angkor Wat Bike Race was particularly special.  There is no other bike ride in the world quite like this one – where else would you see sunrise, paddy fields, monks, cows, water buffalo, elephants, cyclos, tandems, Japanese tourists and of course the wonderful temples of the Angkor Wat complex.   With some 400 entrants in total, HOPE entered a team 40 local Cambodian young adults and their educators from all three HOPE supported Young Adult Programmes.

The 30km race starts at 6am, just as it is beginning to get light, so we have to get there in the dark (another 8kms) and try to get organised in the dark –this is much easier for the Cambodians who are more used to early starts and lack of light, than it is for Jo and Tanya!  The backdrop for the start and finish is surely one of the most amazing temples, Angkor Wat, there is nothing more inspirational. We highly recommend a visit, with or without bicycle.   As the ride progresses you are cheered on by many of the small local children, all with the compulsory Cambodian smile.

You didn’t have to win the race to be a winner, anyone who got up at 4.30 cycled in the dark to get to the start line and then cycle for 30km around the temples has to be a winner.  Our photos speak for themselves.

Training sessions on Sunday are continuing, a great way for the young adults from different projects to mix, see more of their countryside and get some exercise (and a break from studying).  We will be back next year, I seem to remember Jo saying she would also enter the running races on the following day – I know I declined but maybe I said I would do the 100km cycle ride!

The day after the Race we were rewarded with dinner cooked by the 13 Young Adults from Sangkheum who all live together in a transition house.  Not only was dinner great (they have recently been taught how to make proper burgers by staff from a local training hotel) and I am so proud to see how well they are transforming into independent, motivated and curious young adults.  On this lovely evening they made a presentation to us, a framed acknowledgement for the $25,000 HOPE has, so far, provided to support their programme.

Finally, with my love of football I always squeeze in a visit to Sangkheum Centre to go along to the daily training session.  I usually end up playing around with some of the younger kids all too small to even kick a normal sized football.  But this time I was treated to a wonderful 10 minutes having a proper one on one kick about with Tour.  When I first met Tour, 5 years ago, he had only recently come to the Centre and could barely walk and definitely couldn’t talk.  Now he goes to school, chats away in Khmer, can ”high-five” and is starting to play football, This was probably the most priceless moment of the whole trip.  I saw a lot of positive progress during my trip but this brought the biggest smile to my face.

Mads training in his boiler suit offshore Australia

As you can see from earlier blogs and updates, training has officially started for HOPE’s annual bike challenge. This year Tanya will be joining Jo, Thomas, Samnieng, Dayvy, Jay, Vanarith, Ida, Karla, Marli, Natasha and many of the Young Adults and educators from Sangkheum Center for Children, Anjali House and Salariian Kampuchea in the annual Angkor Bike Rally.  HOPE entered the Sangkheum young adults into this last year and they got so much out of it we have agreed to do it again – and this time with even more recruits. At the time of writing, we have over 50 participants in Siem Reap and a growing number elsewhere too!

This is the kids own way of helping us to help themselves, and if you would like to encourage them further please visit the Just Giving page – Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedalling and Exhaustion.

The regular training sessions from outside Soria Moria Boutique Hotel are going well with various routes trough some beautiful Cambodian countryside. Should you happen to be in Siem Reap and would like to support the young adults in their preparations, please contact the reception at Soria Moria for the latest training schedules as we will have extra cycle guides allowing a number of guests to join the training sessions – absolutely free of charge…!!

Whilst obviously missing out on the great atmosphere and beautiful backdrop of the Angkor temples, some keen supporters have committed to do 30kms on exercise bikes on the day of the event or embrace the great outdoors wherever they may be. Mads will be pedalling on an exercise bike on board FPSO Ningaloo Vision offshore just outside of Australia, another group organised by Jess Connor will be on the Great Ocean Road and, encouraged by a recent visit to Siem Reap, another group of supporters from komplett.no lead by Jan will be pedalling in their training room in Sandefjord, Norway.

We have also received wonderful support from the Adidas shop in Siem Reap who will be providing water bottles, wrist bands, head bands and socks for prizes!

The big day is Saturday, 4th of December and starts at sunrise!

Despite many good friends and loyal supporters in the UK, we have no organised events scheduled on the day there (…yet), so, should you want to put some extra muscle behind your fundraising efforts, join our growing team of global challengers by contacting us !!

Mads in full training

Last Sunday's training group

Sangkheum's Young Adults

One of Salariian Kampuchea's smiling young adults

Cambodian countryside and bright orange dust roads (HOPE's colours)

Painting at Anjali House - Adidas are a main supporter

On Sunday the 31st of October, I went to the bicycle training with my friends from Anjali and people from other organizations in Siem Reap. We started the training at 8.00 o’clock in the morning and met each other at Soria Moria Hotel. From there, we went straight on Wat Bo Road and we turned to the road near the Siem Reap River. When we went along this road, I could see my house and the houses of some of my friends. On this road, I also saw a lot of people I know, rice fields and cows.

The training was very nice for me. I had a very good time, because I never raced with my bike as far as we did during the training. I was tired, but that was ok.
Before I went to the training, I felt a little bit sick, but when I was riding my bike I felt better because I could see the beautiful views along the road and get fresh air. It is like a medicine. Therefore, I think that bike racing is a very good sport and it is a good exercise for people, because it can make you better when you’re feeling sick. So, I hope all people like bike racing.

I went bicycle training last Sunday to practice for the bike race next month. I also met some students from other organizations in Siem Reap. We rode very far, about 20 kilometers. I rode very fast and I saw many people along the road who were working on the farms. And some people drove cars or motos passed me and they looked at me. Some people were fixing the road and other people were constructing something.
I felt very happy because it is the first time. I was very tired afterwards, but I really enjoyed it. I think it is very good, I even got a new t-shirt! I also like that I get experience from the bicycle training.

My name is Roun and on Sunday last week I went to train for the bike race with my friends at Anjali and some other kids. Along the way I saw very nice places such as rice fields, trees, schools, buildings, small houses, and many kids fishing in the river. I know I can ride my bike very fast, but that day I was a little sick so I couldn’t go that fast. I hope I get better soon. I am very happy because this was the first time for me. I am happy over the moon!
Thank you!

I did bicycle training on Sunday last week. It was great, but now I’m very tired. I have never experienced riding bicycle for such a long distance. On the road, I saw rice fields, houses, landscapes and a lot of people. Last Sunday, we rode for 23 kilometers. While I was riding the bike I could feel the cool air in my face. Also, I saw a golf field. This was the first time ever that I saw one!

Hello, my name is Sopheak and I’m 16 years old. I am a student at Anjali House. On Sunday, I practiced for the bike race. First we met at Soria Moria Hotel and we got a t-shirt. After that, they told us the route that we needed to practice. Then, they took a photo of all the people together. 5 minutes later we left from the hotel and started the training. We rode a long time and we went through the country side. We saw rice fields, cattle, birds, a lot of green, and especially a lot of cool air.
I felt very exciting because this was the first time for me. I hope I will join again. It was a little hard for us to ride, because there was a lot of wind, so we couldn’t ride very fast. But it is fine!

On Sunday morning I went to practice for the bike race with my friends and my teachers. First, we meet at Anjali and then we went to Soria Moria Hotel. When we were there, we got a new t-shirt and they told us about the road that we would practice. Then they took a photo of all of us together. After that, we leave from the hotel and started the practice. We rode a long time and I saw a lot of rice fields.
I am very happy because before I never practice with this many people. Now I could practice together with all my friends and we will all join in the bike race in December. I hope I can also join the training again. It’s difficult for us, but it also gives us a good health. And I hope that I win the race!

These texts have been written by the young adults from Anjali House who participated in the bike training on Sunday morning. The stories are their own but their impeccable English has been corrected by Richard the YAP C0-ordinator who has set up the Young Adult Programme at Anjali House! Thank you Richard for your hard work and for getting the kids along to the first training session! For more information about our support to Anjali House click here!

Hope sponsored young adults

Training for the Angkor Wat bike ride officially started this morning and 20 enthusiastic cyclists turned up before 8am this morning at Soria Moria hotel in the fresh (dare I even say cold) air! It does happen in Siem Reap sometimes and it’s a welcome relief to the constant hot, and the downpours during the rainy season. A light wind made this morning’s cycle almost pleasant as we trundled past the Siem Reap river, open lush green rice fields and ending up on airport road back to the town centre.

Thomas led the training group, hotly followed by the Sangkheum Center and Anjali young adults. It wasn’t a bad start as we clocked up 23 km in just about one hour and 15 minutes, only another 7 and we would’ve completed the target! We should be flying round the course after 4 more training sessions…

On the day Tanya, Thomas and I will be joined by some fellow Siem Reapers who enthusiastically turned up for training today – Natasha, Karla and her daughter Marli and Richard from Anjali House. Thanks for coming and thanks to the young adults too.

I am excited to say we have already reached 7% of our fundraising target and thank our loyal supporters for supporting us some more… as always, Mum and Dad, Lesley, Stu and a few others. If you would like to build momentum and encourage us all on our cycling challenge by donating please visit our just giving page!

Sangkheum Young Adults before the 23KM training ride

Sangkheum Center for Children

Seeing as it’s the raining season and public schools are closed, many of the teachers on the programmes HOPE support have been given the opportunity to have some additional teacher training.

First off one of Sangkheum’s educators, Sann Tola, trained the teachers from My Grandfather’s House alongside several YAP students who have shown a keen interest in teaching. The training included how to plan terms, weeks and days and plan classroom Activities. It also covered teaching them about sounds, sound games, and sound curriculum. Presentation methods, recording and test analysis.

In addition four Sangkheum Center teachers including the YAP Educator Sandap went to Phnom Penh to attend Training in: Khmer Curriculum & Planning, Advanced English, Primary & Secondary Maths, Primary & Secondary Science, IT and Administration Skills and First Aid Training.

Thanks very much to Kate White and Michelle Woo for making this happen!